McLaren allows three IndyCar drivers to complete private test in Barcelona

Alex Palou, Colton Herta and Pato O'Ward are driving a private test for McLaren's Formula One team this week. They will be in action from Wednesday to Friday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the drivers will board last year's MCL35M.

McLaren is increasingly looking at drivers from other racing classes, especially in the IndyCar series, which the Woking-based team also competes in. With Palou, Herta and O'Ward, McLaren is putting three different drivers from the IndyCar series through their paces in a Formula 1 car. In the coming days, they will get the chance to step into the 2021 McLaren car, the MCL35M.

O'Ward currently drives for the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team. Palou is with Chip Ganassi Racing, while Herta is with Andretti Autosport. The latter is still hoping for an exception from the FIA regarding a super license, as AlphaTauri wants to add the driver to its lineup in 2023. That would clear the way for Pierre Gasly to join Alpine.